The Last Favor

Chapter 16

Adelaide was not the most attentive to her surroundings and that’s something Bryce not only learnt quickly but also took advantage of. However, the boy wasn’t the most discreet a person could be. It took Ada hours, but eventually, a few seconds away from the lake, she finally caught the little devil. And their fight began.

“I told you this is dangerous,” she scolded, “you shouldn’t be here!”

“Why not? I can help. What are you going to do all alone? Lose? Plus, you’re not the only one who needs the reward.”

“I wasn’t going to keep all of it!”

“You want me to use something I didn’t earn? Great advice. Isn’t that stealing?”

“How is it stealing? I’m giving it to you!”

“Life doesn’t hand you things, Ada!”

“What would you know about life, boy? You’re barely seven!”

“I know about being all alone,” he croaked.

That was when Adelaide realized that this wasn’t about adventure or thrill or even obstinacy. This was about Bryce’s abandonment issues; first his parents and now Tristan. He just wanted to make sure that Adelaide wasn’t going to leave him as well.

“I’m sorry Bryce,” she apologized, “we’re a team now and I can’t go off on my own like that and leave you. We’ll work things out together from now… SON OF MONK!  What kind of sick joke is this?”

Bryce immediately turned to observe whatever it was that Ada had just witnessed.

“No, no! go away!” he yelled, “this is our monster to catch.”

Tristan, ever so polite, ignored them and kept walking to the lake then threw a rock at the pit. The Bablek immediately appeared out of the water roaring with might, swinging his poisonous tentacles everywhere.

“He is mine!” declared Adelaide with might, “we were here first and you should just leave before you get us all killed. You’re not wanted here, Tristan!”

The noise was noted as unwelcomed by the mollusk as his tentacles destroyed all that’s in their way. He growled uncontrollably when Tristan threw a bomb at him. Fire defensively blurted out of the tentacles’ sucker. Tristan ran to the lake, put his hand in and controlled the water to throw it at the source of the heat. The beast was only more furious as a result. Just when a tentacle was about to poison Bryce, Tristan sprinted to his side and pushed him. The smell of bitter almond filled his nose and numbed his mind. Bryce immediately reached for an arrow and shot a weak arrow with strong aim that Tristan instantly lit ablaze.

He ran to the side of the lake once more, bleeding, and evaporated the water as much as possible draining all trees nearby of their energy he then used then made thunder out of that mist and hit the creature.

Adelaide then jumped and throws a spear into the beast’s eye. She then puts her hand on the ground. Her amulet shone brightly as the stones rose from the ground. She threw them at the monster’s tentacle suckers. Ada then threw a bomb.

Bryce shot the Bablek repeatedly while Tristan lit the arrows on fire. When they ran out of arrows, Ada grabbed a poisoned-full vial and hurled it into the being’s mouth. Minutes later, the water turned dark and the Bablek froze in place then died.

Tristan immediately walked away as soon as the creature dropped dead.

“Wait,” the kid yelled out still a bit shocked that Tristan put himself in danger to save him, “you need proof for the reward”

As expected, Tristan ignored him and kept going. And, as he got used to, Bryce ran up to his side after he cut up a tentacle. As soon as he laid eyes on him, the kid gasped in shock.

“You’re really injured. Tristan you need to rest!” he exclaimed, “you’re an idiot.”

“Go away.” Tristan paced as if nothing was wrong at all, as if he wasn’t slowly bleeding to his death.

“You saved my life. I’m not going to just leave.”

“I’m fine.”

“You need this for the reward,” he mumbled while extending the tentacle.

But Tristan kept walking. It felt like he was slowly running away, hiding his wincing, forcing his limb to disappear and shaking the headache away. He couldn’t explain it himself, all he knew was that he refused to show the kid any sort of weakness. He refused to be looked down upon by him. He was used to the world’s glare, but not Bryce’s, never Bryce’s. It may be a ridiculous thing to hold onto but it was all he had left and he had absolutely no intention of letting go.

“You’re an i***t,” yelled the kid, “you’re a complete i***t and you’ll get yourself killed for some stupid kid you met a few weeks ago!”

Had Bryce already gotten over Tristan’s betrayal after just one act as big as it was? Was he worth it? Can he even trust him at all after all he’s been through? Deep down, the kid knew better than to forgive him and pretend like nothing happened but by refusing to forgive him and ignoring how he risked his life for his sake was in itself the same thing. He had a choice to make. And he chose Tristan for good this time.

Adelaide cut her own tentacle then quickly followed, her thoughts buzzing louder than ever before. She found it hard to believe that Tristan was able to continue the fight because if there’s one thing she knew about a Bablek, it was how deadly their grasp can be from the poison in their suckers. She was sure that without any sort of medical assistance there was no way Tristan would make the night. As she jogged to the boy’s side, she wondered what this fight would mean for them because at this point she had no intention of leaving Bryce alone with this unfit Lezterp. After all, she’s a Neroc and if there’s one thing they’re known for, it’s that they do what’s right no matter the price.

When she reached the boy’s side, she noticed his worry for Tristan laid unconscious.